St. Cloud police officer charged with stalking

A St. Cloud police officer was arrested on stalking charges Thursday, just days after announcing his intention to resign, according to Police Chief Pete Gauntlett on Friday.

Officer Jeffrey Ortega-Cerda was arrested after St. Cloud police asked the Osceola County Sheriff's Office late Wednesday to investigate a complaint that he had threatened his estranged wife in the midst of divorce proceedings, according to the sheriff's office and police.

Ortega-Cerda's wife told deputies the threats were made Wednesday when he sent her 18 text messages and called her 30 to 40 times within 90 minutes, according to the sheriff's office. She also accused Ortega-Cerda, 24, of past domestic violence.

The arrest report filed by the sheriff's office documents numerous allegations of domestic violence against Ortega-Cerda including slapping his wife while pregnant, slamming her against the side of their home and making her pull the trigger of his police sidearm while he sucked on the pistol barrel. The sheriff's office has recommended to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office that Ortega-Cerda be arrested on domestic violence charges, said sheriff's spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain.

When located Thursday at his Kissimmee home, Ortega-Cerda denied threatening his wife but acknowledged sending her text messages, according to the sheriff's office. He was charged with domestic stalking based on those messages, according to the sheriff's office.

The arrest report quotes from several text messages found on her telephone, including: "U and everyone else will be involved with The Bull including the cops. I'm not afraid…U should be and will be."

Gauntlett said Ortega-Cerda had been a "stellar officer" for four years, who told colleagues he intended to resign to move closer to family in New England. His resignation was processed following his arrest.